Valve



Nov. 16, 1937. E Q KRAFT 2,099,443

VALVE Filed Oct. 4, 1955 ATTORN Y.

Patented Nov. 16, 1937 umso STATES PATENT' ossia VALVE DelawareApplication October 4, 1935, Serial No. 43,479

6 Claims. (Cl. 137-111) to be used with particular advantage in theregulation and control of the flow of liquids which are viscous,gelable, or sticky in nature, and which solidify with aging.

This invention will be described with particular reference to theregulation and control of viscose through pipelines, nevertheless. itwill be obvious that the invention has general utility in the controland regulation of the flow of other fluids.

Heretofore in the control and regulation of the flow of viscose,difficulty has been experienced due to sticking or freezing of the valveelements. In automatic relief or throttling valvesthe co,-

'operating valve elements remain stationary in given positions over aperiod of time. When such valves are used in pipelines carrying viscose,the cooperating elements will function well for a comparatively shortperiod of time, but after the lmof viscose between the cooperating valveelement has become gelled due to aging, the valve will no longer besensitive to small ,diderences in pressure in the pipeline. As aconsequence, automatic throttling and relief valves, such as were knownprior to this invention, must necessarily be removed and cleaned atrelatively short intervals.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide automaticthrottling or relief valves for usein the regulation and control ofliquid which will increase in viscosity-or gumminess and may even gel orsolidify with time.

It is another object of the present invention to provide automaticthrottling or relief Valves which will remain sensitive to slightchanges in pressure over an extended period of time when used for theregulation and control of the ow of liquid containing substances whichwill tend to cause an adherence between cooperating elements of saidvalves.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

'I'he objects of the invention can be generally achieved by providingmeans in automatic throttling or relief valves for continuouslymaintaining a slight continuous or intermittent motion between thecooperating elements without disturbing the temporary position of saidelements relative to each other due to the pressure of the fluid. Thesevalves are furthermore preferably provided with means for removingviscose to prevent stagnation and gelation thereof from between saidcooperating elements.

To more clearly set forth the details of the invention, reference ismade to the following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying illustration in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partially in section, showing anautomatic relief valve constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the valve shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view, partially in section, showing anautomatic throttling valve constructed in accordance with the presentinvention.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, reference numeral II designates avalve body of an automatic pressure relief valve which is positionedbetween pipelines I2 and' I3. A valve sleeve I5, provided with aplurality of ports I l, is rigidly positioned within the valve body I I.A hollowed valve plug I9 is slidably positioned within the sleeve I5.The plug I9 is provided with a plurality of ports 2i which are adaptedto cooperate with ports il to permit the flow of viscose or other fluidsfrom pipeline I2 to pipeline i3. The valve body-II is provided withflanges 23, 25 and 21 to which may be attached flange 29 of pipeline I3,flange 3i of pipeline I2 and the head 33 respectively. The plug I9 isprovided'with a reduced end which is adapted to project through head 33.The reduced end 35 is provided with a xed collar 39 and a crown 3l. Alever 4I is connected to the collar 39 by means of screws 43. 'I'hislever is provided at one end thereof with a slot 45 and a cross-head 'l(see Fig. 2), the cross-head being adapted to move within the slot 55.

A frame 49 is connected to the valve body II in any desired manner.Mounted on the frame 49 is a motor 5I and a gear reduction box 55 whichare connected'to each other by means of the shaft 53. 'Ihe shaft 5l,driven bythe gear reduction mechanism, is provided with a head 59 uponwhich is mounted an eccentric pin 6I. The pin 6I is 'adapted to projectthrough a bore in the cross-head 4l, and is adapted to impart motion tothe cross-head and the lever il. This motion will rock the plug I9relative to the sleeve I5 and thereby prevent the formation of asolidifiedv or gelled viscose between the plug and the sleeve.

The valve body I I is furthermore provided with screw threaded meansinto which may be'threaded an inlet pipe fitting 63. and an outlet pipefit- 61 surrounding the plug I9 is provided for connecting the inlet andoutlet pipes B3 and 69. This groove is cut through one side of sleeve l5and is adapted to permit the passage of water or other suitable liquidbetween the sleeve I5l and the plug I9 whereby any aged viscose may bewashed from between these two members. The crown 31 is provided with anotch 1| in which may be positioned a bar 13 as is clearly shown in Fig.2. A pair of rods 15 are connected to the ends of the bar 13, which rodsare connected to one arm of a bell crank lever 11. The rods arepreferably passed through the anges 21 and 25 so as to make as compact aunit as possible and to provide a guiding means for said rods. The bellcrank lever is pivoted at 19 to a support 8|. The other end of the bellcrank lever 83 is provided with a weight 85 adjustable along the lengthof said arm 83. A support 81 is preferably provided below the weight 85upon which the said weight may rest when the valve is in a closedposition.

The operation of this valve is somewhat as follows. The viscose willenter the valve body through the pipeline I2 and exert a pressureagainst the plug I9. As the pressure builds up above normal, the portsI1 and 2| will tend to coincide with each other and permit discharge ofa certain amount of said viscose to relieve the excess pressure thereon.The valve, as shown in Fig. 1, is open to its maximum extent, due toexcess pressure in the pipeline I2.

This valve could also be transverted into an automatic throttling valveby passing the viscose into the valve through the pipeline I3. In thiscase the port openings I1 and 2| would be coincident when the weight 85was in position on the rest 81. As the pressure in the pipeline I3increased, lthe port openings would move away from each other so as toclose the valve by reason of the pressure transmitted to the hollowedplug I9. This would tend to produce a uniform pressure in/ the pipelineI2.

When a pressure equilibrium is reached in the valve the cooperatingvalve elements I5 and I9 will remain stationary relative to each otherand any f viscose between said elements will, upon solidiiication, tendto bind these elements to each other. In the operation of the valve, theslidablek plugV I9 is oscillated by means of the motor 5| and the gearreduction' box 55 and the lever 4| through an arc of a few degrees sothat the viscose between the plug I9 and the sleeve I5 will not stagnateand 'solidify to cause sticking between these two elements. Suflicientclearance should be permitted between the sleeve and plug so that asmall amount of viscose will continually leak out and keep these partslubricated with fresh viscose. Any viscose between the sleeve and plug.which may work its way to the head of the valve will be washed.therefrom by means of the liquid passing from pipeline 63 to pipeline69.

Referring to the modified form of throttling valve illustrated in Fig. 3of the drawing, reference numeral |00 designates a valve block having acylindrical bore |0| into which is screwthreaded an inlet pipeline |05.The valve block |00 contains an annular -groove |28 which is adapted toserve as an outlet for the flow of the viscose from the valve block. Anoutlet pipeline |09 is screw threaded into the block and connected withthe groove |28. A piston-like valve head is positioned within thecylindrical bore |0I. The valve head is provided with a skirt |25 whichin turn is provided with aplurality of openy ings |21 to connect theinlet to the outlet pipelines. A valve stem ||3 is pivoted to the valvehead at ||5. A lever |35 is fitted about the valve stem I I3 and isflxedly connected thereto by means of a screw |41. The opposite end ofthe lever |35 is provided with a slot |31 for reception of an eccentricpin |39 which is mounted onia driven shaft' |4I. The shaft |4| may bedriven by any desired means and is adapted to oscillate lever |35 bymeans of the interposed eccentric pin |39 and slot |31. A spaced guideblock |43 is Arigidly xed to the valve block |00 by means o'fr'ods |45.The guide block |43 is provided with a screw-threaded, adjustablebushing |51 which in turn is provided with a longitudinal openingtherethrough for passage of the valve stem II3, the valve stem beingadapted to move longitudinally Within the bushing |51. A coilcompression spring |49 is positioned between the bushing |51 and thelever |35 for the purpose of compensating for pressure on the valve headI tending to push the latter in an upward direction.

'I'he valve block |00 is furthermore provided with a groove |20positioned circumferentially ofthe bore |0I. The valve head III isprovided with a reduced section ||1 adjacent the groove |20 for apurpose to be hereinafter set forth. An inlet pipeline for a washingliquid is threaded into the valve block |00 and is connected to thegroove |20. Water or other suitable washing iiuid may be passed from theinlet pipeline I I9 into the groove |20 and upwardly around the reducedportion of the valve head II and thence to the bore I0| in the valveblock |00. The upper portion of the bore |0| in the valve block |00 isclosed by means of a packing gland |23 thereby preventing the passage ofthe water outwardly over the top of the valve block |00. As an outletmeans for the water or other suitable iluid, a pipeline |2| is screwthreaded into the upper end oi valve block |00 and is connected to thebore |0| byl means of an opening |22. Consequently any viscose which maywork its way upwardlyA between the valve head and the cylindrical bore|0| will be washed from the valve by means of the water owing from I|9to |2I. A split ring |3| may, if desired, be placed in the lower portionof valve body |00 to limit the downward movement of valve head I.

When functioning as a throttling valve the viscose will enter throughpipeline |09, thence around groove |28 and inwardly through openings |21into the bore of valve head from thereto the outlet pipeline |05. As thepressure increases in pipeline |09, the valve head will tend to bepressed upwardly against the force of the spring |49 and thus tend tonarrow the openings between the ports |21 and the groove |28 restrictingthe pressure from pipeline |09 and maintaining the desired pressure inthe pipeline |05.

By reason of the present invention, viscose, or similar viscous orgelable liquids, may be automatically regulated and controlled with thesame accuracy and precision as non-viscous and nongelable liquids.Automatic relief and throttling valves, when constructed in accordancewith the present invention, may be used for the regulation and controlof viscose over comparatively long periods of time without the necessityof periodic Adismantling of the pipelines for the purpose of cleaningand washing such valves. v

Obviously, many variations and modiiications 0I the specific embodimentdescribed an'd illustrated may be made without departing from the natureand spirit of the invention. The invention is therefore not to belimited to the specific details of the disclosed embodiment except asset forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a valve'suitable for use in the control and regulation of viscoseand similar iluids, cooperable elements longitudinally movablerelatively to each other to effect an opening or closing of said valve,means for continuously oscillating said elements relatively to eachother to prevent sticking therebetween, and fluid directing means forpassing a cleaning fluid between said elements.

2. In a valve suitable for use in the control and regulation of viscoseand similar fluids, cooperable elements movable relatively to each otherto effect an opening or closing of said valve, said elements havingsufiicient clearance between each other to permit a continuous leakageof fluid therebetween, and means for moving said elements relatively toeach other to prevent sticking therebetween without substantiallyeffecting an opening or closing of said valve, and iluid directing meansfor passing a cleaning iiuid between said elements.

3. In a valve suitable for use in the control and regulation of viscoseand similar fluids, cooperable elements movable relatively to each otherto effect an opening or closing ofsaid valve, means for directing thefluid to be controlled against said elements to cause a relativedisplacement thereof, means tending to force said elements against theirrelative displacementMmeans for moving said elements relatively to eachother to prevent sticking of said elements to each other, and fluiddirecting means for passing a cleaning iiuid between said elements.

4. In a valve suitable for use in the control and regulation of viscoseand similar iluids, cooperable .elements movablelrelatively to eachother to effect an opening or closing of said valve, means for directingthe fluid to be controlled against said elements to cause a relativedisplacement thereof, means tending to force said elements against theirrelative displacement, means for moving said elements relativelyrto eachother to prevent sticking of said elements to each other, said elementshaving suilicient clearance between each other to permit a continuousleakage of fluid therebetween.

5. In a valve suitable for use in the control and regulation of viscoseand similar fluids, cooperable elements movable relatively to each otherto effect an opening or closing of said valve, means for directing theiiuid to be controlled against said elements to cause a relativedisplacement thereof, means tending to force said elements against theirrelative displacement, means for moving said elements relatively to eachother to prevent sticking of said elements to each other, said elementshaving suicient clearance between each other to permit a continuousleakage of fluid therebetween, and means for removing leakage fluid frombetween said elements.

6. In a valve suitable for use in the control and regulation of viscoseand similar fluids, cooperable elements movable relatively to each otherto eiect'an opening or closing of said valve, means for directing theuid to be controlled against said elements to cause a relativedisplacement thereof, means tending to force said elements against theirrelative displacement, means for moving said elements relatively to eachother to prevent sticking of said elements to each other, said elementshaving sufficient clearance between each other to permit a continuousleakage of fluid therebetween, and iluid directing means for passing acleaning uid between said elements.

FREDERICK G. KRAFT.

